Grand Canyon, Cliff Top and Braeside Walks

The Grand Canyon, Cliff Top and Braeside tracks are an excellent way to see the great diversity of the Blue Mountains National Park in the Blackheath area, from the Neates Glen rain forest, through the void of the Grand Canyon, to the separation of plateau and valley by the Cliff Top walk. The walk then finishes with a creek-side stroll along the Braeside Track. It truly is a wonderful walk.

(0km) Neates Glen car park → Neates Glen car park sign

640 m

18 mins

13m

-151m

Moderate track

From Neates Glen car park, this walk heads down the stairs following the ‘Grand Canyon Track’ signs. The track zigzags many times down the hillside, with the surrounding vegetation becoming more like a rainforest, before the track comes to a railing. From this railing, the track winds down more stairs to a second railing that crosses over a creek. The track continues to wind down the right side (with creek on the left) of the canyon. The track follows the creek down past a few mossy overhangs of rock to cross a boardwalk bridge before the canyon opens up. The canyon opens onto a densely vegetated area which leads the track to a creek crossing and a sign pointing back up to ‘Neates Glen carpark ‘.

Neates Glen

Neates Glen, Blue Mountains NP, is a deep little valley with a creek running through it. Neates Glen is part of the Grand Canyon Track and offers a nice sample of rainforest before entering the Grand Canyon itself.

(0.64km) Neates Glen car park sign → Rotunda

540 m

14 mins

31m

-53m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the sign, this walk heads away from the creek and car park, following a short section of a rock shelf to round the corner of the hill. The track contours around the hill for a little while passing under a few rock overhangs, before winding steeply down the hill into the canyon. The track heads down the cliffs by stairs to a signposted intersection in front of a sandy rock overhang, the Rotunda.

Rotunda

The Rotunda, Blue Mountains NP, is an area on Greaves Creek where the cliff has been carved out to form an overhang, over a sand beach within the Grand Canyon. The Rotunda is a great area for a rest and a snack, especially on a hot day.

(1.18km) Rotunda → Evans Lookout

2.7 km

1 hr 23 mins

314m

-212m

Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign to ‘Evans Lookout’, winding around the side of the canyon under the rock overhangs. The track soon passes through a small rockfall tunnel, and then passes behind a waterfall to continue around the railed canyon track for approximately 500m, coming to a railing bridge in front of another waterfall.Continue straight: From the waterfall, this walk continues to contour around the canyon wall, keeping it on the right of the track. The track does so for quite some time before winding down deeper into the canyon after rounding a hill. The track winds down to a signposted intersection. From here, the track crosses the creek a few times before turning left at a rock overhang then crossing the creek again. The track quickly winds through the creek before passing over a bridge and continuing down the canyon. After approximately 200m, the track winds past a pool in the creek to then come to a signposted rock in a creek.Veer left: From the intersection, the walk crosses the creek to another sign, pointing up the stairs to Evans Lookout. The walk climbs these stairs, up through the gap in the cliffs. The walk heads up the gully on stone cut steps which are soon met by a railing for a short while, and then up a set of wooden steps to the intersection with several signs.Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Evans Lookout’ arrow[1] up the hill, weaving around boulders. The track then tends left before climbing up the stairs, through a pass in the rock, to Evans Lookout.

Evans Lookout

Evans Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, looks over the spectacular Grose Valley, with its deep gorges, green forest and prominent cliff lines. The fenced lookout is at the end of Evans Lookout Road. There is a rock shelter hut and toilets.

(3.87km) Evans Lookout → Evans Lookout toilets

140 m

4 mins

21m

0m

Moderate track

Turn sharp left: From the lookout, this walk heads up the hill towards a stone shelter. The track continues past the stone shelter and away from the cliff line, to soon arrive at the car park.Continue straight: From the information sign, the walk heads around Evans Lookout car park to the toilets at the opposite end (away from the cliffs).

Hayward Gully

Hayward Gully, Blue Mountains National Park, is named after the first white man, William Hayward, to reach the floor of Govetts Gorge, in 1847. The area is a small gully along the Cliff Top Walk between Evans Lookout and Barrows Lookout. The gully is a quiet place, with a bench seat to enjoy the flora and fauna, and views through the trees into the Grose Valley.

(4km) Evans Lookout toilets → Barrow Lookout

2.1 km

53 mins

104m

-165m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the car park, this walk heads past the toilets, away from the road and car park. The track descends the hill for approximately 100m to a flat area of approximately 60m. The track then becomes boardwalk for 30m, across a bridge in ‘Haywards Gully’. The track continues to undulate around the hillside for approximately 500m, then drops into a gully and climbs out again. The track tends left, out of the gully, to a bench seat on the left, the intersection. If the track begins to descend after the bench seat, you have gone too far.Veer right: From the bench seat, this walk heads down along the cliff top with the valley below on the right. The track descends some stairs for approximately 200m to flatten out for 100m or so before descending some more stairs, to ‘Barrow Lookout’.

Barrow Lookout

Barrow Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, looks down to Govetts Leap falls and across the Grose Valley. The lookout is fenced and has a bench seat to rest.

Govetts Leap (falls)

Govetts Leap, is a waterfall in the Blue Mountains National Park. The fall is fed by Govetts Leap Brook which runs over the cliff into the Grose Valley. The falls are best viewed from Govetts Leap and Barrow Lookouts. Leap is a scots dialect word for cataract or waterfall.

(6.1km) Barrow Lookout → Braeside Picnic Area

1.2 km

22 mins

54m

-10m

Hard track

Continue straight: From Barrow Lookout, this walk heads down the stairs towards Bridal Veil Falls and the creek in the valley. The walk soon comes to a signposted intersection, above cement stepping stones in the creek.Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Braeside Walk’ sign, up the stream, along the rocky track. The walk leads approximately 100m, to then go down to the creek. The stepping stones are followed up stream to a set of stairs. This walk climbs the stairs and continues south-west for approximately 100m to find some overhead power lines.
The walk continues upstream, passing an overgrown track on the left (which heads underneath power lines on the left to join up with a management trail above on the hill). This track is passed, as the brook is followed for approximately 100m, passing some large boulders on the right as the track continues approximately 500m to the Braeside Picnic Area.

Braeside Picnic Area

Braeside Picnic Area, Blue Mountains National Park, is a small picnic area on the southern end of the Braeside walking track. The picnic area has a bench table and stone barbeque. The picnic area is situated next to a small weir and waterfall amongst the ferns.

(7.31km) Braeside Picnic Area → Int. Braeside Service Trail and Braeside Picnic Area

60 m

1 mins

8m

0m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the weir and the barbeque, this walk heads up the hill, keeping the weir on the right of the track, soon reaching the stepping stones. The track tends right across the creek via the stepping stones. From the creek, this walk heads up the steps to the signposted intersection on the management trail.

(7.37km) Int. Braeside Service Trail and Braeside Picnic Area → Int. James Rd

1.2 km

24 mins

53m

-3m

Moderate track

Turn left: From the ‘Braeside Walk’ signposted intersection, this walk leaves the ‘Braeside Walk’ sign behind on the left as it continues along the service trail towards a waterfall. The track quickly swings left, passing the waterfall (on the left of the track) and continuing up the hill for approximately 400m. The track then tends right for approximately 100m, where is passes a service trail (which heads north). This walk continues south for approximately 600m to a large intersection.

(8.59km) Int. James Rd → Neates Glen car park

700 m

12 mins

5m

-11m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads towards the road, passing a house on the left. The walk continues along James Rd to then turn left onto Evans Lookout Rd. The road tends right, to then pass Victoria Rd on the right. Shortly after Victoria Rd, this walk comes to the Bush Rock Cafe (now closed) on the left.Continue straight: From the Bush Rock Cafe(now closed), this walk heads along the road leaving the cafe behind on the left. The track continues down the road for a short time, passing Somerset Ave on the left, to then come to Neates Glen car park on the right.

Maps for the Grand Canyon, Cliff Top and Braeside Walks walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

4km of this walk has short steep hills and another 3.3km is very steep. Whilst another 1.9km has gentle hills with occasional steps and the remaining 150m is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

5km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 3.5km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. Whilst another 220m follows a clear and well formed track or trail and the remaining 150m follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 3.2km has minimal directional signs. The remaining (370m) is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 6km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 3.4km requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 8km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 850m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

6km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 2.8km has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged). The remaining (840m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Grand Canyon, Cliff Top and Braeside Walks walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-bmnp-gcctabw
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.